Environmental issues and sustainable development

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on the second anniversary of Tropical Cyclone Idai, observed today:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released new data today saying that nearly 12 million women lost access to contraception due to pandemic-related disruptions, leading to some 1.4 million unintended pregnancies.  However, health systems in many of the 115 countries adapted and continue to provide services.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on the tenth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, observed on 11 March:

The United Nations and the Government of Iraq today released the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan which seeks $607.2 million in humanitarian aid to assist 1.5 million of the most vulnerable internally displaced people in Iraq and returnees.  According to the overview, 4.1 million Iraqis need humanitarian assistance.

Following are Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as delivered, to the Public Discussion with European Parliament Vice-President Heidi Hautala, on the theme “10 years to go until 2030:  Decade of action for the Sustainable Development Goals”, held today:

Following are Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, held today:

Schools for more than 168 million children around the world have been closed for an entire year due to lockdowns, a report from UNICEF says, noting that around 214 million children globally, or one in seven, have missed more than three quarters of their in-person learning.  The most vulnerable may never return, it warns.

Following is text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Powering Past Coal Alliance Summit today:

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya today strongly encouraged the House of Representatives to consider the vote of confidence in the cabinet to be proposed by the Prime Minister-designate.  The Mission also said it is not in a position to comment on allegations of bribery during the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

United Nations Children’s Fund Representative (UNICEF) in Nigeria Peter Hawkins calls on those responsible for the mass abduction of girls from a State-run school in Zamfara to release them immediately and for the Government to take steps to ensure their safe release and the safety of other schoolchildren in the country.